Finally Fall!

Happy Fall, y'all! It is finally here… the season I wait for all year long.

F A L L

Yes, autumn, Whatever you want to call it. I love it. Unfortunately, even though it is technically "fall" here down south in Arkansas, it isn't totally autumnal weather. We're having highs in the mid-80s this week and well.. I'm just done with that.

One of my favorite parts about autumn?? NO MORE SWEATING while shooting! Or, for you, my sweet clients.. no more sweating while POSING. HA!! Doesn't that just make life so sweet?!

I have had a couple of A M A Z I N G sessions in the last two weeks and I'm just dying to post a huge preview for you.

Sorry… I can't, yet!

But what I can do.. is post the previews I've already given on Facebook. My lovely clients haven't seen all their images yet, and I don't want to spoil the surprise. I'm beginning in-person gallery viewings THIS WEEK so I can have that lovely customer experience… oh, you know.. seeing the client's face when you see your images for the first time. I can't wait. I can't wait to see the light in a young girl's eyes when she sees the photos I've taken of her and actually SEES herself for what seems like the first time. I love that. Showing a girl just how gorgeous she really is. Seriously L O V E.

So, before this session, I had never worked with a horse. Now, I would prefer each client to bring a horse. FOR REAL. Such majestic animals. Dignified. Beautiful. Looking at a horse just reminds me of how great my God is. Like looking at a brand new baby, or a beautiful woman with a lifetime of wrinkles on her face. There is so much beauty everywhere, and I'm so incredibly thankful that I get to capture that magic.

After I posted this preview, I had a couple of my number one fans text me and tell me how amazing they found this image to be. I seriously have never felt such love from people not involved in the photo whatsoever. It was a profound moment. 

While this was a fabulous session, both of them.. it was so, so incredibly hot and sweaty. YES! I'm so excited for upcoming sessions in the coolness that is fall! :)

One more tiny photo for this post… my sweet kitty cat. Well, my girls' sweet cat. His name is Sir Wall-e Sprinkle the first, but we just call him Wall-e Sprinkle for short. HA. He was super mad in this photo, we had been on a walk and this adorable, fluffy little gray kitten had followed us home. Wall-e Sprinkle would not look at any of us until the kitten left our yard. Animals are hilarious. :P

Supporting One Another {Fort Smith Portrait Photographer}

Something is on my heart lately, and I'm excited to get to tell you about it.

Recently, I got to tour the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House. This place is amazing. The staff is amazing. The house serves as a meeting place for cancer patient support groups, a hotel for cancer patients that need a place to stay when traveling to Fort Smith for treatments, and a safe haven for newly diagnosed cancer patients.

My sweet friend Susan runs the House, and she does a beautiful job. All the volunteers at the House are so warm and welcoming. There are event rooms that can be used for various things, but one of the best things she told me about- parties for kids. Kids that have cancer, that deserve so desperately to have a moment like any normal kid. A birthday party. A valentines party. A just because party.

Cancer sucks. To put it bluntly. My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor (Thank You, Jesus!). I remember how terrifying it was to know that I could lose my Grandma. I know that fear that kids have. The fear that parents feel when their kids are diagnosed. The sadness that anyone feels when they or a loved one are diagnosed with this life changing and sometimes life ending disease.

So last night, when Susan asked me as a last minute favor, if I could photograph today's Butterfly Release for Ovarian cancer survivors and in honor of those lost, I couldn't say yes fast enough. I have told her since the day I toured the House that I am happy to volunteer my time and talent as often as she needs me to. These people are amazing. As I was photographing, and looking on at these amazing survivors, I said a little prayer. A thank you, for allowing me to be here. A special blessing on these women. And a prayer of comfort for the families that lost their loved ones.

This was such a beautiful event! The House is very near to my heart and if you would like to donate there are quite a few ways. If you live in Fort Smith or near by, you can check out their wish list and drop the items off during weekday business hours. If you're out of town, you can always order things from their wish list off amazon (use smile.amazon.com and you can even choose to have a percentage of your purchase price go to the Support House!) and have the items delivered. And if you're local local, you can always volunteer your time. 

Find out more about the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House here.

Avery | Class of 2015 {Fort Smith Senior Photographer}

Happy Labor Day weekend!!

Saturday morning, after praying for the rain to hold off, I got to spend the sunrise photographing sweet Avery! She is seriously such a go-getter! She loves horses, soccer, and her senior year, of course!

Favorite Senior Session To Date {Fort Smith Senior Portrait Photographer}

Hi there!!

I have been doing a bit of organizing around my office, and let's be honest… for the creative mind, cleaning and organizing so often turns in to reminiscing over things found… and not getting much cleaning or organizing accomplished at all! ha! Typical for me, anyway. :)

Going through previous sessions is always something I love to do. I love to see how I have grown as a photographer. I also love remembering the faces of the clients when they see their photos- especially those proud mamas!

This has probably been one of the most fun senior sessions I have done to date, and not because we had any over the top crazy ideas. Brittany was so easy going and laid back, she was willing to try any pose I imagined.. including jumping in to the freezing cold lake. We laughed a lot and I really enjoyed working with her! We shot my favorite images on the farm I grew up on; the owner was gracious enough to let us visit.

Please enjoy this stroll down memory lane with me.. and I hope these photos make you smile as much as they do me!

I told y'all, we had a lot of laughs!

Senior Special {Fort Smith Senior Portrait Photographer}

I love love love my SENIORS!!

Macro Photography: A hobby {Fort Smith Photographer}

Hi there!

So I came up with a resolution! I know, it isn't anywhere close to New Years. That's ok, though! Bettering myself is always something I make time to do!

As a portrait photographer, learning new techniques is crucial to my trade. Staying up to date on software, hardware, props, camera body, lenses, lighting, etc., is an entire job in itself outside of even shooting! I love it though, as do most professional photographers (I think. ha).

My entire life, I have loved all the gorgeous photos of dew drops and flowers that come as your "desktop option" on a shiny new computer. I remember my first computer, when I was 13, and how the desktop was just blue. But then I figured out how to change it to different colors. It was always pink or lavender. You know… back when photos weren't on computers, the internet only let you check your e-mail and type in chatrooms.. and dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Before investing in a macro lens, I decided to try out some macro tubes ($13 on amazon, you just can't beat that). I am still not positive I like them enough to spend the money on the glass, when there are others I would rather have (probably!). I'm having fun, though.

I would like to share with you a couple of images from around my yard, after a lovely Southern summer thunderstorm!

xo

Kelsi & Dominic {Fort Smith Senior Portrait Photographer}

Young Love

It's a beautiful thing!

Kelsi is my Arkoma Senior Rep, and Dominic is her sweetheart. We knew that we wanted to incorporate him in to her senior session somehow, and I'm so happy that we did! 

Dominic leaves this weekend for college, and I don't think that there is a more fun way to send him off than with a paint fight and a few sweet moments for both of them to cherish across the miles!